1997 Cannes Film Festival
The 50th Cannes Film Festival took place from 7 to 18 May 1997. French actress Isabelle Adjani served as jury president for the main competition. Jeanne Moreau hosted the opening and closing ceremonies.
The Palme d'Or was jointly awarded to Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami for the drama film Taste of Cherry and to Japanese filmmaker Shōhei Imamura for the drama film The Eel.
The festival opened with The Fifth Element by Luc Besson, and closed with Absolute Power by Clint Eastwood.
Juries
Main competition
- Isabelle Adjani, French actress - Jury President
- Paul Auster, American filmmaker
- Luc Bondy, Swiss director
- Tim Burton, American filmmaker
- Patrick Dupond, French dancer and artistic director
- Gong Li, Chinese actress
- Mike Leigh, British filmmaker
- Nanni Moretti, Italian filmmaker
- Michael Ondaatje, Canadian author
- Mira Sorvino, American actress
''Caméra d'Or''
- Françoise Arnol, French actress - Jury President
- Luciano Barisone, Italian film critic
- Olivier Brunet-Lefebvre, French cinephile
- Julien Camy, French cinephile
- Ulrich Gregor, German cinema historian
- Gérard Lenne, French film critic
- Jiří Menzel, Czech filmmaker
- Nicolas Philibert, French filmmaker
Official selection
In Competition
The following feature films competed for the Palme d'Or:''Un Certain Regard''
The following films were selected for the Un Certain Regard section:Out of Competition
The following films were selected to be screened out of competition:Short Films Competition
The following short films competed for the Short Film Palme d'Or:Le Bon Endroit by Ayelet BargurCamera obscura by Stefano ArduinoFinal Cut by Justin Case...Is It the Design on the Wrapper? by Tessa SheridanJoe by Sasha WolfLeonie by Lieven DebrauwerOver The Rainbow by Alexandre AjaLes Vacances by Emmanuelle BercotParallel sections
International Critics' Week
The following films were screened for the 36th International Critics' Week :Feature film competitionJunk Mail by Pål Sletaune Mother of the Dunes by Abdoulaye Ascofaré This World, Then the Fireworks by Michael Oblowitz Le Mani forti by Franco Bernini Character by Mike van Diem Bent by Sean Mathias Insomnia by Erik Skjoldbjærg
Short film competitionThe Signalman by Benoît Mariage Marylou by Todd Kurtzman & Danny Shorago Adios Mama by Ariel Gordon Tunnel of Love by Robert Milton Wallace Muerto de amor by Ramón Barea O Prego by João Maia Le Voleur de diagonale by Jean Darrigol
Directors' Fortnight
The following films were screened for the 1997 Directors' Fortnight :Buud-Yam by Gaston KaboréCosmos by André Turpin, Arto Paragamian, Denis Villeneuve, Jennifer Alleyn, Manon Briand, Marie-Julie DallaireDakan by Mohamed CamaraHamam by Ferzan OzpetekI Hate Love by Laurence Ferreira BarbosaKicked In The Head by Matthew HarrisonKissed by Lynne StopkewichL'autre côté de la mer by Dominique CabreraThe Good Life by David TruebaLa Vie de Jésus by Bruno DumontMa 6-T va crack-er by Jean-François RichetMa vie en rose by Alain BerlinerMurmur of Youth by Lin Cheng-shengThe Perfect Circle by Ademir KenovićThe Power of the Skirt by Adama DraboA Friend of the Deceased by Viacheslav KryshtofovychSinon, oui by Claire SimonMy Son the Fanatic by Udayan PrasadSuzaku by Naomi KawaseTrain of Shadows by José Luis GuerinUn frère... by Sylvie VerheydeLiberté chérie by Jean-Luc GagetSoyons amis ! by Thomas BardinetTaxi de nuit by Marco CastillaTout doit disparaître by Jean-Marc MoutoutY’a du foutage dans l’air by Djamel BensalahOfficial Awards
In Competition
- Palme d'Or:
- * Taste of Cherry by Abbas Kiarostami
- * The Eel by Shōhei Imamura
- Grand Prize of the Jury: The Sweet Hereafter by Atom Egoyan
- Best Director: Wong Kar-wai for Happy Together
- Best Screenplay: The Ice Storm by James Schamus
- Best Actress: Kathy Burke for Nil by Mouth
- Best Actor: Sean Penn for She's So Lovely
- Jury Prize: Western by Manuel Poirier50th Anniversary Prize: Youssef Chahine Palm of the Palms: Ingmar Bergman
''[Caméra d'Or]''
- Suzaku by Naomi Kawase
- *Special Mention: La Vie de Jésus by Bruno Dumont
[Short Film Palme d'Or]
- ...Is It the Design on the Wrapper? by Tessa Sheridan
- Jury Prize:
- *Leonie by Lieven Debrauwer
- *Les Vacances by Emmanuelle Bercot
Independent Awards
FIPRESCI Prizes">FIPRESCI">FIPRESCI Prizes
The Sweet Hereafter by Atom Egoyan Voyage to the Beginning of the World by Manoel de Oliveira''Commission Supérieure Technique''
[Prize of the Ecumenical Jury]
The Sweet Hereafter by Atom Egoyan- * Special Mention:
- ** Lucky Star by Ricardo Franco
- ** Voyage to the Beginning of the World by Manoel de Oliveira
Award of the Youth
- Foreign Film: Bent by Sean Mathias
- French Film: I Hate Love by Laurence Ferreira Barbosa
International Critics' Week
- Mercedes-Benz Award: Junk Mail by Pål Sletaune
- Canal+ Award: The Signalman by Benoît Mariage